New York Judge Gives Ok To Dominican Extradition

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August 1, 1999

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - A liquor store owner accused in the 1975 slaying of a Dominican journalist can be extradited to the Dominican Republic to face the murder charge, a judge has ruled.

The decision, announced last week in New York by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, should allow Dominican officials to take custody of Mariano Cabrera Duran, a sergeant in the country's air force at the time of the killing. U.S. marshals arrested Duran in November at the request of Dominican officials, who maintain he has admitted shooting journalist Orlando Martinez on March 17, 1975.

Martinez, director of the magazine Ahora and a writer for the newspaper El Nacional, was a critic of President Joaquin Balaguer, whose administration was attacked for human rights abuses and political killings. Balaguer left office under international pressure in 1996.

Government court papers allege Duran shot Martinez as he left work during an assault by a group of civilians and military personnel.